Amalgam carrier

Abstract

The functional portion of the instrument includes a pin and lever assembly. One end of the pin is received in an opening in the handle. The other end of the pin is bent into a "U" shape to form a plunger. The lever, which carries a cylinder, is mounted on and moveable relative to the pin. As the lever is moved relative to the pin, the plunger moves within the cylinder to dispense the amalgam. The lever is held on the pin by a bias spring which extends from the handle. A flexible element within the handle normally engages the pin end to retain the assembly on the handle. Depression of a button on the exterior of the handle causes the internal element to flex to disengage the pin end. The assembly may then be easily removed from the handle as a unit by disengaging the bias spring from the lever. This facilitates thorough cleaning of all parts of the instrument and reassembly thereof.

I claim: 
     
       1. A dental instrument comprising a handle with an opening, and an assembly comprising first means having an end received within said opening, second means mounted on and moveable relative to said first means, means for retaining said assembly on said handle, said retaining means being moveable between a position wherein said first means is engaged to retain said assembly on said handle and a position wherein said first means is disengaged to permit removal of said assembly from said handle as a unit and means accessible from the exterior of said handle for moving said retaining means from said engaged position to said disengaged position. 
     
     
       2. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising means extending from said handle for engaging said second means to bias said second means relative to said first means. 
     
     
       3. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a pin having first and second ends and wherein said first pin end is received within said opening and engaged by said retaining means. 
     
     
       4. The instrument of claim 3 further comprising a cylinder and wherein said second pin end cooperates with said cylinder and functions as a plunger. 
     
     
       5. The instrument of claim 4 wherein said cylinder is carried by said second means. 
     
     
       6. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a first part normally situated adjacent said first means and a second part which extends from said first part forming an obtuse angle therewith. 
     
     
       7. The instrument of claim 2 wherein said second means has an opening through which said engaging means extends. 
     
     
       8. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises flexible means normally biased toward a position to engage said first means and wherein said accessible means comprises depressible means for moving said flexible means to a position wherein said first means is disengaged. 
     
     
       9. The instrument of claim 8 wherein said flexible means comprises a protrusion and said first means comprises a protrusion receiving recess. 
     
     
       10. An amalgam carrier comprising a handle with an opening and an assembly comprising a pin with a first end received in said opening and a second end, a cylinder, a lever mounted on and moveable relative to said pin, said cylinder being situated on said lever with said second pin end therein and means for retaining said assembly on said handle, said retaining means being moveable between a position wherein said first pin end is engaged to retain said assembly on said handle and a position wherein said first pin end is disengaged to permit removal of said assembly as a unit and pushbutton means accessible from the exterior of said handle for moving said retaining means from said engaged position to said disengaged position. 
     
     
       11. The carrier of claim 10 further comprising spring means extending from said handle for biasing said lever relative to said pin. 
     
     
       12. The carrier of claim 11 wherein said lever comprises a first part normally situated adjacent said pin and a second part which extends from said first part forming an obtuse angle therewith. 
     
     
       13. The carrier of claim 11 wherein said lever has an opening through which said spring means extends. 
     
     
       14. The carrier of claim 10 wherein said retaining means comprises a flexible element normally biased toward a position to engage said pin and wherein depression of said push button moves said element to a position wherein said pin is disengaged. 
     
     
       15. The carrier of claim 14 wherein said element comprises a protrusion and said pin comprises a protrusion receiving recess.